Beadle's Half Dime Library, No. 515 — page 8: what you’re looking at

Machine-transcribed from the original scan — historical spelling and the odd misread are preserved.

_ i oe i gee 9 yer Su“ PAL = ine gr Oy a s ~~ == ote ss. PP ey cen eee a oo, Nye Ce hilew,, ane eS , PE vine i 4 “You are very kind, Mr. Bristol, and I as- sure you my gratitude knows no bounds. I will try to defena myself, if worst comes to worst, but I do hope Lord Lindley will not come near me, for I dread to see him.” ** Maybe he will not. I don’t think you need have any apprehensions as far as to-night 1s concerned, for it will take the better part for him to plaster up his face, and clean the dirt off his clothes!” Dick took leave of his protegee, and entered his office next door, where he found Johnny Smile seated in an easy-chair, his heels elevated several degrees higher than his head, upon a desk, And moreover, Johnny was making short work of a package of cigarettes, a new luxury that had just arrived in camp, ** Johnny, I want you to remain at the office this evening,” Dick said, going to a drawer and takins out a revolver, ‘‘ W hat fur?” demanded Jobnny, who -usually had his evenings to himself, ‘To be within hearing distance, in case Baby Bess calls for assistance. She has an enemy in town, who may seek to molest her, during my absence, Here is this revolver. If you hear an outcry, go to her assistance, and order the man to leave, at the point of your weapon. If he re- fues, salivate him, but take care not to aim at a vital spot!” ‘Albright, boss! Ill do just as you say.” ** You won’t be afraid, will you? **Not I!” Johnny declared, ‘ Ther’ ain't no skeer about Johnny Smile, an’ ye orter know it, by this tame. Et would be ee Old fun for me to sail in to ther rescue, fer [ don’t mind ad- mittin’ thet Pm clean dead stuck on Bessie, yer know.” ‘It is not probable you will be called upon to give an exhibition of your valor to-night. Keep roar eyes open, however. I shall not be gone ong.” And Dick took his departure. At eight o’clock that evening, the soaring moon was well up in the great starry cupola of the heavens, and shed down upon Mother Barth alight of mellow brilliancy. The main street of the camp swarmed with people, most of whom were sauntering to and fro, enjoying the delight- ful night, but beyond this, the camp lay silent and deserted, Winter was near at hand, and the denizens of the camp, were making the most of the pleas- ant, deliciously bracing weather. Over at the shafts of the mines the hoisting- engines sent continuous jets of exhaust steam into the clear night air, and the clanking of the machinery made a strangely weird sound. In the vicinity of the big stamp-mill, a monot- enous silence prevailed. It was exactly eight o’clock, when Deadwood Dick arrived at the appointed meeting-place with Floy Justice, in the rear of the mill. On his arrival there, he found that Floy had not yet arrived, so he seated himself on a bowl- der, to await her coming, He had not long to wait, for she soon made her appearance, but so muffled up, as to be scarcely recognizable, As he drew near, he saw that she was weep- ing, and quickly springing to his feet, he went forward to meet her. ‘“Why, Mrs, Justice, what 7s the matter?” he asked, taking her hands in his, ‘Why these tears?” ** Oh! don’t ask me,” she sobbed, “for I can- not answer you. Read that, and it will explain all. Ob! my God, I wish I were dead, and in my grave!” Dick took a sheet of paper, which she extend- €d to him, and by aid of the brilliant moonlight, was cnabled to decipher what was written there- on. | His brows knitted in a frown, as he read the following: **Mrs. Justice, Mapam:— ‘‘ Hereafter, I shall make the hotel my headquar- ters, and you can have our home all to yourself. Yur conduct has been an insult to me, and'a chasm yawns between us, which can never be “bridged. neeforth, you can invite your company into the hous, instead of spooning over the gate. It will look better at least. I shall withdraw my support, but as your new flame is well-to-do, no doubt he will take a mortgage on the house, and give you money sufficient to provide you with the necessaries of life. JERRY JUSTICE.” Deadwood Dick could not refrain from utter- ing an imprecation, as he finished reading the note. ** The infernal fool!” he cried, angrily. ‘ He shall pay dearly for this letter. To think that he sbould mistrust a_good little wife like you Mrs. Justice! Way, I'll have the fellow flogged within an inch of his life!” Deadwood Dick’s Protegee. ~ r 5 — to ani ke - me ‘Ob! no! no! Mr. Bristol!” pealingly around bis neck, Just then, Jerry Justice came around a corner of the stamp-mill, and with folded arms, stood in full view. CHAPTER X., SEPARATION, Ir was rather a dramatic scene, Florence clinging to Deadwood Dick with her arms about his neck; while in the background stood Jerry arms folded, and with a look of bitter hatred upon his face—stood there in bold relief, an accusing Justice, statue-like and motionless, his witness of, as he supposed, his wife's perfidy. Dick was the first to see him, and he gently released himself from Floy’s embrace. “Mrs, Justice.” he said, “your husband is Remain here, and I will go for- watching vou. ward and speak to him,” Floy grew deathly pale as she saw Jerry, and sunk back upon a rock, faint and terrified. “Oh! you will not. burt him?” she pleaded ; ‘* Promise me that.” ** For your sake, Mrs. Justice, I promise, but lt is only for your sake, The infernal fool de- serves to be shot down withovt mercy!’ And with darkening brow Dick strode forward to meet his superintendent. But half-way had he advanced when he fourfd himself covered by Jerry’s revolver. “Halt!” the superintendent ordered. “Stay where you are, and come no nearer, or I will put a bullet through you. Whatdo you want?" ‘I want to know what you mean by your out- rageous treatment of your wife?” Dick replied, sternly. ‘* Your conduct toward her is both un- just and unmanly, and demands an explanation, sir, That’s what 1 want of you, Justice,” ‘‘Indeed!” Justice replied, sneeringly, ‘* 'Yowre a pretty plum to i questions of that sort! You, who have played the part of a double-faced hypocrite, and alienated the affec- tions of my wife; I have been cognizant of the flirtation that was going on between you two, only through hearsay; but to-night I have satis- fied myself of the truth of the reports, and that is all I want. Henceforth yonder woman is nothing more to me than the veriest stranger. She has dishonored and disgraced my name, and now she is free once more to do as best pleases her, As for you, I would be justified in killing you, but my contempt for you is so great that 1 would not waste powder and ball upon you!” For a moment Dick was too mad to give ut- terance, and, bat for his promise to Floy, he would, no doubt, have rushed forward and at- tacked the su erintendent. With an effort, however, he managed to con- trol his passion, and spoke c mposedly. ‘* Justice,” he said, “ you are laboring under the greatest of delusionsin supposing for an in- stant that your wife is not perfectly loyal and true to you, or that I have alienated her affec- tions from you. Further than being a sincere friend to beth of you, I have done nothing to warrant this unreasonable jealousy on your part. True, in passing your house, I have occasionally paused at the gate and hadachat with your wife, but with no other motive than honest friendship, ‘* It appears, however, that you have grown in- sanely jealous, and to-day, I learned for the first, from your wife, that it was her belief, it was my well-meant courtesy to her, which was making you so gloomy and sullen. Of course I ridiculed the iJea that you, of all persons, should be jealous of me, and at your wife's request, I promised to try and find out why you were treat- ing her so coldly. “Mrs. Justice was very much distressed, and requested me not tocome near the house any more, But, as she wanted to hear the result of my investigation, she arranged to meet me here, to-night, and when she came, she was weeping and in great distress over the insulting letter you had sent her. ‘Now, Justice, I know that this woman, Mabel Lamont, has been putting you up to this revolt, and I am surprised that a man of your mental caliber should heed the persuasion of an adventuress. ‘‘In behalf of your faithful little wife. of whom you ought to be too proud to let a jealous thought enter your mind, I have given you a truthful explanation of the case, and now, if there is a spark of manhood in your composition, you will go forward and ask your wife’s for- giveness, and make up with ‘her, and never again let the demon jealousy enter your heart!” There was a momentary silence, when Dick finished speaking; then Jerry Justice uttered a * : = e iat ‘ 2 ee) es ed - ; . ; - - You must not harm Jerry, And Floy threw her arms ap- Tt —~o., ~ | hard, grating Jaugh—a laugh filled with bitter sarcasm. ‘‘Lapologize—I? Oh! no, You have a very ee faculty of smoothing over matters, but you can- not stuff me up with taffy. OnceI am convinced of a thing, it is useless to try to change my mind, So you have expended your breath ail to no use, ‘Yonder woman no longer has any claim up- | on me, and hereafter must look out for herself, As for you, I presume you will discharge me from your employ, so I will see you and go you one better, by informing you that you can look for a new superintendent, as, from ‘this time on, | Lam no longer in your employ!” ; .. Poronce, you are very right!” Dick declared, | Sternly; ‘Sand, more than that, you will never | get employment again, in Pistol Pocket. Tl] give you forty-eight hours to get out of thecamp, | and if you are not gone by the expiration of that | time, Pll have you fired out. As for your desert- | ed wife, I will see that she does not come to | want!” HW | _“*Oh! T presume so!” Jerry replied, sarcastic- | ally. ‘* But, remember this: You'd better look | out that it’s not you who get’s fired out of the | camp, instead of me!” | And with this threat, be turned and strode | away, rounding the corner of the stamp mill, | and disappearing from view, while Dick returned to Floy, who had been near enough to overhear what had transpired. She was very pale, but far more composed than Dick had expected to find her. ‘ Mrs. Justice,” he said, ** you have my sym- pathy in this hour of trouble, and as I consider myself in a measure to blame fer it, 1 shall do all in my power to make reparation. If T were you, however, I wouldn’t let the matter worry me, in the least. No doubt Jerry will come to his senses, after awhile, and be only too glad to come back to you.” | ‘*T shall not worry!” Floy replied; ‘“‘nor do | I consider you in the least to blame. Jerr | Justice has shown the true inwardness of his | nature, and henceforth, our paths in life lie | apart,” “Oh! I wouldn't despair, Ill wager he'll 'come back and ask your forgiveness, ere the moon grows old, In the mean time, you bad bet- ter lock up your shanty, and come and stay with Baby Bess, for the present. She will be delighted to have you, I am sure, for company. If you need money, at any time you have but to call on me,” ‘Thank you, but I am not at present in need of money, as I have quite a sum I had saved up | before I married Jerry. I think 1 will accept your invitation to stay with Bessie a few days, as I am afraid to stay alone in our own shanty.” And so it was arranged. Together they went to the Justice shanty and locked it up, and within a short time afterward Floy was safely and comfortably housed in the cosey home of Baby Bess, who gave her an af- fectionate welcome. CHAPTER XI, THE MEETING IN THE STAMP-MILL. MASTER Johnny Smile, though a model office boy by day, was not quite so model after night- fall, and he regarded Deadwood Dick’s order to remain in the office, as an imposition encroach- ing upon bis good nature. Johnny liked his evenings cff, as well as the ordinary youth of his age, for he and several other lads of kindred dispositions, were wont to congregate and indulge in a Jittle game of poker, penny ante, agame which Johnny was particu- larly successful at. : Therefore, Dick had not been ten minutes absent from the office before Johnny began to get restive, and became possessed of a longing to go out and be stirring around town. ‘“Drat the office!” he growled. ‘‘’Tain’t fair fer the boss to go off and have his fun, and leave me cooped up here, like a squirrel. Ther boys’l] expect me at the stamp-mill, and—by gosh! Dm oin’, The office: kin go to blazes. Ill be back fore the boss will, anyhow, and he won’t be none the wiser for my absence.” And having formed the resolution, J ohnny locked up the office, and skurried away toward the stamp-mill, within whose gloomy interjor the youthful poker club did nightly congregate, The mill was dark and deserted, when J ohnny reached it, none of the other boys having yet arrived, and so Jobnny threw himself down on a bench, to await their coming, Johnny was a lad of a rather eg ood-nature, and, more than all, was chronically lazy. The quiet that pervaded the stam eatad'ba have a soothing effect upon mill, ap- is senses, oily tongue, Deadwood Dick, and a very happy — ee a ee ly th